Advances in Positioning, Navigation and 3D Mapping of Underwater Environments

Dear Colleagues,

The future of our planet depends on our oceans’ health and inland water resources. In the United Nation Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, there is a compelling need for efficient and effective scientific methods for studying and understanding our oceans. Three-dimensional mapping is, in this regard, a main priority, and several projects to accomplish full 3D mapping of the ocean floor have been initiated over the last few years, leveraging the state-of-the-art technologies currently available. From inland streams of water to rivers and lakes to the ocean shores and down to the deepest unexplored crevices of our oceans, challenges abound that require prompt scientific and technological answers. Three-dimensional mapping is an invaluable means by which to understand the complex dynamics of the most important element for life. Although accurate solutions for 3D mapping exist, many are still costly and time-consuming.

This Special Issue aims to collect contributions on advances in positioning, navigation, and 3D mapping of underwater environments focusing on innovative, low-cost, effective, and efficient methods.

Research manuscripts, reviews, and technical notes are welcome. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: methods related to underwater 3D mapping, such as through-water airborne photo-bathymetry; lidar bathymetry; acoustic and optical positioning; underwater geodetic surveying; underwater photogrammetry; visual inertial simultaneous localization and mapping; subsea metrology, multi- and hyperspectral imaging; satellite remote sensing; and autonomous unmanned as well tethered systems.

Dr. Fabio Menna
Dr. Erica Nocerino
Dr. Dimitrios Skarlatos
Dr. Caterina Balletti
Dr. Panagiotis Agrafiotis
Dr. Gottfried Mandlburger
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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